History of melanoma

Melanoma classically occurs in fair-skinned individuals of European origin. It is therefore surprising that the earliest evidence of melanoma has been found in the skeletons and skin of pre-Columbian, non-European mummies discovered in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes [1]. As well as widespread metastases in bone, rounded melanotic masses were identified in the skin of these mummies. Carbon dating has indicated that these individuals died around 2400 years ago